Rahane's batting position is not certain

Rahane started out as opener in junior cricket and even played the first few years of his domestic cricket at the top before switching to No. 3.

So it would make sense if the team management make a straight swap of Dhawan for Rahane as an opener, but even that is not confirmed yet. There is a theory that Cheteshwar Pujara may open the innings in Delhi, while Rahane could bat at No. 3 or at No. 5.

With India having taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the match-series, India has the best opportunity to test the abilities of Rahane, who has forced his way into the Test team on the basis of his consistent performances in domestic cricket.

But at the same time the inclusion of Raina for the Delhi Test is a major surprise. The left-hander has an ordinary record of 768 runs in 17 Tests at an average of 28.44 with has just a single half-century in his last nine Test innings.

Rahane might benefit from Raina's failings

He failed to do enough in domestic cricket scoring 304 runs in six matches at an average of 33.77 with just a century and a fifty in 10 innings.

From the look of things, Raina has come up as back-up player in the squad and barring an injury or two he might not get a go.

With the series in their pocket, it will be interesting if India also try rookie Ashok Dinda, thereby giving him his first taste of Test cricket.

With the series whitewash in their sight, India will be keen to pick a winning combination and complete a 4-0 series whitewash, which will be a perfectly revenge for the humiliation they suffered Down Under around 15 months back.